MULLINGAR UNION OF PARISHES
Issue 113 “UNION NEWS” July 2019
Dear Parishioners,
Parish Remembrance Sunday – Sunday 7th July 11.00 a.m. in All Saints
In recent years we have held our Parish Remembrance Sunday in early July and this year the Service will be held on Sunday 7th July at 11.00 a.m. in All Saints’ church. This gives all those families who wish to remember their loved ones in a special way and at a special time, the opportunity to attend the Service. I also encourage parishioners from each of the churches to attend as your attendance will provide a great support for those who have been bereaved. As you know, in Westmeath the Roman Catholic parishes have a similar time of remembrance on Cemetery Sunday. Our Parish Service provides an opportunity for families to have a moment of poignancy in the remembrance of our loved ones. This year I am pleased to say that Canon Patrick Lawrence will be the preacher and we will have some very special music with familiar and much-loved hymns.
Growing in Christ – a Unique Parish Development
As you may be aware, we are undertaking a very novel approach to our Parish development. Building on the success of recent initiatives we are now undertaking a parallel process of consultation – on the one hand with young people in the Parish and on the other with adult parishioners – to explore and identify how the Parish can most effectively witness to the Christian faith and values as we grow together moving forward. It is hoped that the culmination of this consultation will be a very imaginative Parish Conference at the beginning of February next year. The next meeting of adult parishioners will be held in All Saints’ at 8.00 p.m. on Monday 8th July. Already a number of parishioners have kindly committed themselves to participate but I also want to extend a warm invitation to all adult parishioners. Those who would like to come will be most welcome to attend this meeting.
A Conversation Lunch – Tuesday 30th July
A number of young people have enthusiastically agreed to organise a special lunch with time for conversation with a number of older parishioners in the Parish. The young people will be organising the event – setting up the Hall, preparing the food, sending out the invitations and cleaning up after the event is over. This promises to be a very special occasion and I know the young people would welcome you remembering them in your prayers as they make the preparations.
Heritage Week Civic Service
Heritage Week will run from Saturday 17th August through to the weekend of 24th August. As usual the Parish churches will be open and details will be given in the August Union Notes. Last year we organised the first Civic Service which was well attended and greatly enjoyed. This year it is hoped to hold the Civic Service on Wednesday 21st August at 1.00 p.m. in All Saints.
The Senior Parish Choir
The Senior Parish Choir have been invited to sing the Service of Evensong in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, on Sunday 11th August at 3.15 p.m. This is a wonderful recognition of the amazing reputation the Choir is getting under the tutelage of our Choir Director, Mr. Bill McConnell. How blessed the Parish is as the Choir truly inspires our church services. Everyone will be most welcome to attend and if anyone would like to travel to St. Patrick’s Cathedral on the Choir bus, please contact Arthur O’Toole at All Saints’.
Holy Baptisms
Over the summer a number of children will be baptised in the Parish and we pray for them, their parents and godparents, as they begin their journey of faith. We also remember baby Jack Keane and his parents and godparents. Jack was baptised in All Saints’ on Sunday 16th June.
Holy Matrimony
We remember in prayer those preparing for their marriage this summer and we hope that each of the weddings will be very special and truly memorable. We also congratulate Philip and Katie O’Morchoe, who were married at a wonderful occasion in Almoritia and reception at Mount Dalton on Friday 7th June. We pray that God will bless both Philip and Katie with a long life together, good health and happiness.
Holidays
Over the summer months many parishioners and their families will be taking holidays. We hope everyone has a very restful and relaxing time and that any travel undertaken will be uneventful and safe.
Bon Voyage
On Thursday 20th June, Kevin and Clodagh Ryan and their family moved to live in Singapore for the next three years. We wish them well on this new episode in their lives and look forward to welcoming them back on their visits to Ireland.
August Concert
We look forward to welcoming to All Saints’ one of Europe’s finest organists on Saturday 17th August for a lunchtime concert. Details will be included in the August issue of the Union Notes. This is a wonderful opportunity to hear inspiring organ music by a world class concert organist.
Coffee on Thursday’s
The coffee morning’s will be held during the month of July
Summer Duty
Olive and I hope to be away from Tuesday 16th July – Thursday 25th July for a short holiday. During that time Canon Patrick Lawrence has very kindly agreed to be available in the event of any pastoral emergencies. Canon Lawrence can be contacted on 086 0562944 and 04492 22109
Parish Website Address – www.mullingarunionofparishes.net.
You may like to keep in touch with the Parish through the website and your family and friends may also like to have the web address.
A thousand thanks,
When Olive and I arrived at All Saints’ for the celebration of Holy Communion to mark our 10th anniversary in the Parish on Tuesday 25th June. We were overwhelmed by the size of the congregation. We would like to thank everyone who attended the Service for their support and for their very generous gifts which were presented after the Service. It is truly a privilege and great pleasure to share our ministry with you in the Mullingar Union. Your support, encouragement, love and prayer is deeply appreciated by both Olive and myself.
Rev. Alastair Graham
